ABBA’s Maiden Voyage
One of the most successful pop groups of all time, ABBA has released their first album since 1981. Voyage will also be performed in a concert film, by members Björn and Benny (pictured), Agnetha and Anni-Frid, along with a 10-piece orchestra, in a purpose-built ‘ABBA Arena’ at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London in May 2022. The album set Universal Music’s record for U.K. pre-orders—over 80,000 copies in just three days.
Sleepy Gary’s the Only One
Sleepy Gary, who releases a song every 21 days, is seen recording a Moog Sub 37 synth on “Field Trip (You’re the Only One)” from his debut album. “This was mid-pandemic in November of 2020 when I was quarantined with my roommate, who just so happens to be an amazing recording engineer and synthesizer collector Gabriel Stanley (Prom, Paul Natural). The snow fell outside and the ambulance sirens howled endlessly through the streets of Bushwick Brooklyn.”
KUU Changes Our Mind
Dance trio KUU (Shungudzo, Riton and Alex Metric) have recently released their debut EP How To Change Your Mind via Warner Records. The EP, with lead single “Gimme Your Live,” juxtaposes driving kick drums with delicate piano chords and Shungudzo’s sensual vocals.
Helix Collective at Sonic Fuel
Helix Collective are Los Angeles-based classical musicians breaking chamber group norms with crossover dance music, to storytelling, to film, television, andvideo game music. Members of the ensemble are pictured recording at Sonic Fuel—these sessions were recorded as part of the Film Music Connect program produced by SAGindie and Helix Collective.
Charles Wiley at Clear Lake
Charles Wiley (left), ranked among MC’s 2017 Top Prospects, was recently at Clear Lake Recording studios in North Hollywood, CA cutting drum and Hammond B3 organ tracks with engineer Eric Milos for his latest prog-rock album, Corn Man Chapter 3—Operation Freedom Corn. Other players on the album include Greg Mathieson (also pictured) on B3, Derek Sherinian, Travis Carlton and more.
AIR’s Nicolas Godin with Patti Smith
Nicolas Godin, one-half of the French duo AIR, has been spotted in the recording studio with punk Poet Laureate Patti Smith, as shared on his social media. AIR (Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel) have released a 20th anniversary reissue of their seminal 2001 album 10,000 Hz Legend, enhanced with Dolby Atmos“3D” remastering.
Chrystabell Sings For The Coyote
Writer, composer, and manifold crafter The Coyote (Elan Levy) just released his new EP Bad Killer on December 3. He recruited singer, model, and actress Chrystabell to record vocals at Ice Cream Factory Studio in Austin, TX. “This song, ‘Girls Won’t Sleep,’ is like a fever dream,” she says of the collaboration. “You’re tossing and turning in your bed, hearing sounds that might just be in your head, until you give in to the unrest.”
